Hi folks! I just recently realized that in the lifetime of my blog, I’ve posted plenty of spooky Halloween patterns, but not really anything more festive and Yuletimey. So I’d like to make amends and share a few winter themed projects for the next few posts. First up, this Gingerbread Buddy!

I really love the way this little dude’s body shape worked up, and will be making different cosmetic changes to this base pattern to create each of these winter themed characters. If folks end up liking the little guys as much as I do, I’ll keep making different themed “Buddies” for each season.

So far I have this Gingerbread Buddy, and a Yeti Buddy already in the works! I have a few more ideas but I am open to suggestions, so feel free to drop a comment if you have any ideas on what you’d like to see. (ᴗᵔᴥᵔ)

YouTube Pattern Video

Below you’ll find the pattern video. I use YouTube’s “Chapters” feature to sort each individual instruction (rounds, sewing, sections, etc.) into a time stamped section. You should be able to see the chapters in the timeline/seek bar of the video below, but if you click over to YouTube, you’ll be able to pull the chapters up and move more easily between them.

As always, with the pattern write-up here on my blog, the written instructions are “bare bones” – they’re designed to work hand-in-hand with the video tutorial, so there aren’t a lot of images or descriptive language. If you’re having any issues, please refer to the video! I work hard to make them as clear as possible. 

If the video still doesn’t answer your questions, drop me a comment here on the blog or over on the video on YouTube, and I’ll see if I can help you out. ❤

Materials

✩ Worsted weight yarn in light taupe, white, red, pink, and green, or your choice of weight and color – just remember to size hooks and accessories accordingly. 

✩ 4mm crochet hook (or whatever size you need, based on the weight of yarn you choose)

✩ 5 red puff balls and a hot glue gun and/or sewing thread to attach

✩ Black embroidery floss and embroidery needle

✩ one pair of 16mm safety eyes – the set I’m using is from Panda Hall’s store on Amazon.

✩ Your standard amigurumi items: tapestry/yarn needle(s), stitch marker, scissors, stuffing

Pattern Notes

All of my patterns are written with US terminology. 

As with most amigurumi projects, your work will be formed by crocheting in a continuous spiral, with a stitch marker marking the beginning of each round. Any other construction style will be indicated in the pattern!

Abbreviations

These are my most commonly used abbreviations. Any special stitches or exceptions will be denoted in the pattern!

rnd(s)	round(s)
sc	single crochet
MR	magic ring
( )	number of stitches at the end of each round
* *	repeat instructions, in the order they appear, the indicated amount of times
inc	increase (typically single crochet – otherwise denoted)
BLO	work in the back loop only
FLO	work in the front loop only
slp st	slip stitch
dc	double crochet
hdc	half double crochet
ch	chain
st(s)	stitch(es)

Pattern

Head

In light taupe, form a MR.

Rnd 1: 7 sc in MR (7)

Rnd 2: *inc* x 7 (14)

Rnd 3: *1 sc, inc* x 7 (21)

Rnd 4: 21 sc

Rnd 5: *2 sc, inc* x 7 (28)

Rnd 6: *3 sc, inc* x 7 (35)

Rnd 7: 35 sc

Rnd 8: *4 sc, inc* x 7 (42)

Rnd 9-14: 42 sc [6 rnds of sc total]

Rnd 15: *4 sc, FLO dec* x 7 (35)

Rnd 16: * 3 sc, FLO dec* x 7 (28)

Rnd 17: *2 sc, FLO dec* x 7 (21)

Rnd 18: 3 FLO dec, leave rest of round unworked (18)

Fasten off by slip stitching to the next stitch, then reserve a long tail for sewing.

Place safety eyes between Rnds 10 & 11, approximately 5 sts apart.

Stuff head, focusing stuffing into the sides and emphasizing the semi-oblong shape of head (think potato, not ball). Then, using black embroidery floss, add smile over Rnd 12 and below the eyes. Add eyebrows above eyes in approximately Rnd 8.

Cheeks

Make 2! In pink, form a MR.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)

Fasten off by slp stitching to first sc. Then, cut a long tail to sew with. Yarn over, and pull tail through last slp st.

You can either sew the cheeks on with back stitch (which hides your stitches!) or opt to glue them on. Either works fine! Attach them to the outside of each eye, over Rnds 12-14. If you’re sewing, weave in all ends.

Body

In light taupe, form a MR.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)

Rnd 2: *inc* x 6 (12)

Rnd 3: *1 sc, inc* x 6 (18)

Rnd 4: *2 sc, inc* x 6 (24)

Rnd 5: *3 sc, inc* x 6 (30)

Rnd 6: * 4 sc, inc* x 6 (36)

Rnd 7: in BLO, 36 sc

Rnd 8-13: 36 sc [6 rnds sc total!]

Rnd 14: *4 sc, FLO dec* x 6 (30)

Rnd 15: 30 sc

Rnd 16: *3 sc, FLO dec* x 6 (24)

Rnd 17: *2 sc, FLO dec* x 6 (18)

Fasten off by slip stitching to the next stitch of the round. Cut a short tail, and stuff it inside the body.

Stuff the inside of the body here. Then, locate the “jog” from the BLO sts of Rnd 7. This needs to be in the back, so make sure the face isn’t on the same side as this jog!

Next, use tail from the head to sew the head and body together. Sew through one stitch of Rnd 17 of the body and one stitch from Rnd 18 of the head – they should line up 1 to 1, since we have 18 sts in each last round. Pull tight on each stitch, cinching the head and body together to form the neck. You may need to add a little extra fluff as you sew.

Once sewn, tie a knot to secure and weave the tail in.

Icing

In white, form a MR.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)

Rnd 2: *inc* x 6 (12)

Rnd 3: *1 sc, inc* x 6 (18)

Rnd 4: *2 sc, inc* x 6 (24)

Rnd 5: *1 slp st, 1 hdc, 1 dc & 1 hdc in next st, 1 sc* x 6

Fasten off by slip stitching to next stitch. Leave a long tail to sew with. Use this tail to sew the icing directly to the top of your Gingerbread Buddy’s head, centered over the MR from the head. I like to tack down the spots where the slip stitches are with a whip stitch, then come back around and back stitch over the other stitches to really secure the icing.

Once sewn, secure with a knot and weave in tail.

Holly Leaf

In green yarn, tie a slip knot and begin chaining.

Special stitch: Ch 2 Picot Stitch – chain 2 sts, then slp st in the first ch stitch created.

Row 1: ch 5 sts – in 2nd ch from hook, place 1 sc, then ch 2 picot. *1 sc in next ch, then ch 2 picot* x 2, then place 3 sc stitches in last chain stitch (should be your slip knot). This flips us to the other side of the chain, where we’ll continue repeating that 1 sc, ch 2 picot pattern down the other side (three repetitions total). I work my tail in from my slip stitch here, too, so I don’t have to come back afterwards and work it in!

To close off the top of the leaf, sc in the first sc st we created, then slp st down the center of the ch and through the 2nd sc we made to flip around the other side of the leaf. Cut a tail to sew with, and use that tail to attach the holly leaf to the icing. Once secured, weave in tail.

Sew or glue your pom poms on, so they nestle nicely next to where the leaf attaches – these are the holly berries.

Arms

Make 2! In light taupe, form a MR.

Rnd 1: 8 sc in MR (8)

Rnd 2-3: 8 sc around

Change color to white – leave taupe attached.

Rnd 4: 8 sc around

Change color back to taupe – fasten off white and weave in end.

Rnd 5-8: 8 sc around

Stuff arm here!

Rnd 9: fold arm in half, and sc sides together to close off top of arm.

Fasten off by cutting a long tail to sew with, then yarning over and pulling through the last loop on your hook.

Use tails from each arm to get them attached to either side of the body. Sew them right where the head and neck meet! Once attached, weave in all ends.

Bow Tie

In red, tie a slip knot and begin chaining.

Rnd 1: ch 6, place 1st sc in 2nd ch from hook, then 3 sc down ch. In last ch, place 3 sc, then working up the other side of the ch, 4 sc (11)

Rnd 2: 1 inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 2 sc, 2 inc (17)

Rnd 3: 1 sc, 1 inc, 3 sc, *1 sc, inc* x 3, 2 sc, *1 sc, inc* x 2 (23)

Fasten off by slp stitching to next stitch, leaving a pretty long tail. Sew tail in and out along the next 5 sts along the top of the bow tie, then cinch the middle by sewing through the fabric from top to bottom. Wrap the tail around and around to form the center of the bow tie, then tie a knot to secure. Use remaining tail to sew bow tie on to the neck. Weave in any extra tail.

Now’s also a good time to add the gumdrop buttons! Sew or glue the 2 remaining red pom poms on here, like buttons, centered on the body.

Legs

Make 2! In light taupe, form a MR.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)

Rnd 2: *inc* x 6 (12)

Rnd 3: *1 sc, inc* x 6 (18)

Rnd 4-6: 18 sc [3 rnds sc total!]

Fasten off by slp stitching to next stitch and cutting a long tail to sew with. Stuff each leg before attaching.

Position each leg so the bottom of the leg lines up with the BLO left behind on the body. Legs are slightly closer set than the arms, about 4 sts apart on the front of the body. Sew through each stitch on the last round of the legs, then tie a knot and weave in each tail.

Complete!

As always, thanks for tuning in. If you haven’t already checked out my YouTube page, I’d be forever grateful if you’d consider subscribing or watching my other tutorial videos. I try to post twice a month with a new tutorial, if everything goes according to plan.

Normal, obligatory legal banter:

Please, if you’d like to share this pattern, link folks directly to this blog page, or to the video on YouTube. I work really hard on my patterns and post them for free – please don’t copy my stuff and sell it as your own pattern, only villains do that. ಠ_ಠ

You can make and sell items made from this pattern – and while I would love a mention on the listing or a link back to my blog, it’s not a requirement.

Have an Instagram and want to post your new make? Tag me (@pixeledpeach) so I can see and promote your page!